Alabama Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth says the recent actions of a church in Birmingham does nothing to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.

“Churches are supposed to spread the Gospel, offer messages of God’s love, and share the life of Christ, not threaten, intimidate, and insult those who exercise their right to vote and support the candidate that is best for them,” Ainsworth said on X. “Those responsible for this sign should be ashamed.”

Churches are supposed to spread the Gospel, offer messages of God’s love, and share the life of Christ, not threaten, intimidate, and insult those who exercise their right to vote and support the candidate that is best for them. Those responsible for this sign should be ashamed. https://t.co/fBlVTK7vhn

— Will Ainsworth (@willainsworthAL) October 31, 2024

Ainsworth was reacting to a sign put up by New Era Baptist Church, a predominantly-black congregation in the city’s West End neighborhood, that had inflammatory remarks about African-American men who might support Donald Trump for President.

The lieutenant governor discussed the issue Monday on WVNN’s “The Yaffee Program.”

“Churches are there to for worship, they’re there for discipleship…certainly not to be getting engaged in politics with just crazy lies that are trying to scare people, thinking that slavery is coming back,” Ainsworth said. “I mean, it’s one of the worst things I’ve seen, maybe not the worst, but certainly from just flat out a church lying, right? I mean, that’s not a good image, and really just offended me right when I saw it.”

Ainsworth emphasized putting out these kind of messages shouldn’t be the goal of a local church.

“And I think from a church standpoint, their goal needs to be, how can we help lost people,” he said. “How can we help people become more like Christ, not how can we spread lies. And try to use fear to impact the presidential race.”

He also argued that, while the message is in poor taste, he still thinks Trump will win the election.

“I think it’s hateful, and certainly probably ignorance as well,” he said. “And I haven’t spoken with them, so I don’t know exactly what his goals are, but I just know that’s the right thing we certainly don’t need in Alabama, we don’t need in our country, and there’s not going to be any benefit. But I do feel really good about the presidential race, about Republicans taking the Senate, and one of the reasons why is the economic issue. And people are tired of what’s going on the economy. They’re tired of inflation. They’re tired of what’s going on on the border.”

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee